TGIF!

I need to wrap up this week. Another warm day. Heat does not bother me, but it does make me re-think some of my planning. A family friend did stop and ask me if I needed a ride home as I walked home from the pool last night. I went from hot to refreshed to hot again on my walk to and from the pool, but that is fine. I think tonight I will go to a friend's pool instead of the town pool. Hers is a bit cooler in temperature - less people and more shade. We will see.

Lots to do before I get to tonight. Need to get ready for regular work. Then VSW. Then swim. I have to drive to work to make it all work as to tight schedule between regular work and VSW so I will have to work on the walking part of my day.

Yesterday I had "a bit" of a meltdown at the UCONN Med Center - with nothing to do with the heat. NOT happy with how a doctor approached my father's appt. All good news as to his health and result of his slice and dice surgery, but such an incredible waste of everyone's time - and another example of using old people as ATM's approach by medical personnel. I did not make any new friends yesterday but luckily that is never my goal. From my email to other family members.

"The good news: report on Dr. _____'s work by Dr. _______ (geriatric oncologist?) (Dr. _____/surgeon was not in attendance) was: "got it all", "nothing left behind" and the only recommendation is "keep your eye open for other bumps and lumps"... The reason behind the appointment was "routine check". Certainly not the set up that was given when the appointment was made.

It was melanoma. Surgeon got it all and did a beautiful job cutting it out. (Keep tat doctor in mind if you ever want cosmetic surgery) There is a 25-30% chance that it might come back. They do not know where it came from. The test that was done at the VA seems to have thrown off the ability to figure that out, but there is not indication that it is anywhere else.

Bad news: I went off on Dr. _______. He admitted to not having read any of the post surgical reports and was reading them for the first time as we sat there. He just wanted to chat about the good news of father's surgery...make us wait 40 minutes to chat! Make the parents worry about what was going to be discussed at the appointment. Taking father out of his electric chair right next to the air conditioning unit to drive to ______ Medical Center on a 98 degree day?...And the chat is everything is fine and Dr. ______ did a good job. Again, could have done that over the phone LAST week.

I brought a little notebook with me to the appt because I thought it was going to be a meaty appointment and I was going to leave it behind for father and mother to make notes as things developed with his medical condition...now I guess Mother can use it for grocery lists.

You all wonder why I do not participate in the system...

But the real news: It is all good with father and mother as of 7/21/2011 at the ages of 91 and 88, respectively. Have a nice weekend."

Another reason I am glad this week is over. Beach tomorrow. Home Sunday. Here we go.